Hybrid Engine System
First Claim
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1. A control system for a hybrid engine for an automotive vehicle comprising:
- an electrical storage power supply;
a motor/generator unit;
a primary fuel powered engine module;
a secondary fuel powered engine module;
a kinetic energy storage device;
a first controllable coupler activated to connect the motor/generator unit to said kinetic energy storage device;
a second controllable coupler activated to connect said primary engine module to said kinetic energy storage device;
a third controllable coupler activated to connect said secondary engine module to said kinetic energy storage device;
a power take-off connectable to said kinetic storage device for providing rotational torque forces to the drive-train of said vehicle;
a fourth controllable coupler activated to connect said first kinetic energy storage device to said power take-off; and
a controller programmed to react to various predetermined inputs from said vehicle for activating or deactivating said couplers during the operation of said vehicle;
wherein a first predetermined condition is the level of electrical charge in said electrical storage power supply, wherein at a predetermined low charge said electric motor is decoupled from said kinetic energy storage device and at a predetermined high charge said electric motor is coupled to said kinetic energy storage device.
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Abstract
A hybrid engine control system for use with a vehicle or other load which employs a motor/generator unit connected through controllable couplers to a kinetic energy storage device and to one or more internal combustion engine modules in a programmed manner. Several embodiments provide varying configurations to satisfy various power and packaging design requirements.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A control system for a hybrid engine for an automotive vehicle comprising:
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an electrical storage power supply; a motor/generator unit; a primary fuel powered engine module; a secondary fuel powered engine module; a kinetic energy storage device; a first controllable coupler activated to connect the motor/generator unit to said kinetic energy storage device; a second controllable coupler activated to connect said primary engine module to said kinetic energy storage device; a third controllable coupler activated to connect said secondary engine module to said kinetic energy storage device; a power take-off connectable to said kinetic storage device for providing rotational torque forces to the drive-train of said vehicle; a fourth controllable coupler activated to connect said first kinetic energy storage device to said power take-off; and a controller programmed to react to various predetermined inputs from said vehicle for activating or deactivating said couplers during the operation of said vehicle; wherein a first predetermined condition is the level of electrical charge in said electrical storage power supply, wherein at a predetermined low charge said electric motor is decoupled from said kinetic energy storage device and at a predetermined high charge said electric motor is coupled to said kinetic energy storage device.
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2. A control system for a hybrid engine for an automotive vehicle comprising:
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an electrical storage power supply; a motor/generator unit; a primary fuel powered engine module; a secondary fuel powered engine module; a kinetic energy storage device; a first controllable coupler activated to connect the motor/generator unit to said kinetic energy storage device; a second controllable coupler activated to connect said primary engine module to said kinetic energy storage device; a third controllable coupler activated to connect said secondary engine module to said kinetic energy storage device; a power take-off connectable to said kinetic storage device for providing rotational torque forces to the drive-train of said vehicle; a fourth controllable coupler activated to connect said first kinetic energy storage device to said power take-off; a speed control interface device having a range of relatively high to low speed demand settings within predefined and juxtaposed speed demand sub-ranges; a brake control interface device having a range of relatively high to low braking demand settings within predefined and juxtaposed braking demand sub-ranges; and a controller programmed to react to various predetermined inputs from said vehicle for controlling said couplers during the operation of said vehicle; wherein said controller cyclically determines the state of charge of said electrical storage power supply, determines the settings of said speed control interface device and said brake control interface device; based upon said determinations, said controller causes individual ones of said couplers to be activated or deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A control system for a hybrid engine for an automotive vehicle comprising:
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an electrical storage power supply; a motor/generator unit; a primary fuel powered engine module; a secondary fuel powered engine module; a kinetic energy storage integrator device; a first controllable coupler actuatable to connect the motor/generator unit to said integrator device; a second controllable coupler actuatable to connect said primary engine module to said kinetic energy storage device; a third controllable coupler actuatable to connect said secondary engine module to said integrator device; a power take-off connectable to said integrator device for providing rotational torque forces to the drive-train of said vehicle; a fourth controllable coupler actuatable to connect said first kinetic energy storage device to said power take-off; a speed control interface device having a range of relatively high to low speed demand settings within a plurality of predefined and juxtaposed sub-ranges; a brake control interface device having a range of relatively high to low braking demand settings within a plurality of predefined and juxtaposed sub-ranges; and a controller programmed to react to various predetermined inputs from said vehicle for controlling the activation and deactivation of said couplers during the operation of said vehicle; wherein said controller cyclically determines the state of charge of said electrical storage power supply, determines the settings of said speed control interface device and said brake control interface device; and based upon said determinations, said controller causes individual ones of said couplers to be activated or deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification